Chapter Five

"Mr. Gilbert, have you decided on a performance?"

Jeremy blushed vividly as he looked up from his sketch of his lover to meet his theatre teacher's amused dark eyes. Mrs. Bennings smiled at him.

"I have. I will be singing."

Everyone looked at him, with raised eyebrows and he ducked his head, blush darkening.

It was well known in his class that he avoided singing when he didn't have to, so it stood to reason that they were shocked.

"What song?" She asked and he smiled softly.

"Can it be a surprise?"

"C'mon, don't be shy."

His blush darkened. "It's a song called Bound to You. I wrote it a few days ago, so it'll be my first time singing it."

Mrs. Bennings smirked playfully, giving her eyebrows a little waggle.

"Got a special someone in your life?"

He smiled, but didn't answer and she sighed before moving on. Once she finished, she handed everyone a slip of paper with a number on it.

"These numbers signify the order you will be performing in. If you forget your number before the show, do not be alarmed. All of the numbers are prerecorded so we will be able to remind you. If anyone is performing with a partner that does not attend our school, then their partner must be registered before the end of the day Friday."

Everyone nodded and the woman clapped twice, a bright smile on her lips.

"Alright, that's all I have for you today. Class dismissed."

Leaving the room, Jeremy fought not to lose himself to his thoughts but he couldn't help it. Just the thought of his love, a mere mention, and his thoughts were no longer his own. Every little part of him belonged to his vampire. His mind was entrapped in eyes so blue that the sky paled in comparison.

His lips curled into a smile, and their song danced on the tip of his tongue. Only Damon could make him this love-struck.

A hand grabbed his arm roughly, drawing him from his thoughts, and he frowned when he saw his assailant was his own sister. The older teen seemed angry, her chocolate eyes blazing as they glared into his own.

"How could you?" She growled and he blinked in confusion.

Was this about the drugs? It couldn't be. He hadn't touched any since being reunited with Damon. They hadn't even crossed his mind. Even the withdrawals seemed mild compared to the warmth caressing him down to his very core as their bond pulsed.

So what had he done to anger her?

She seemed to grow angrier at his confusion. "Caroline!" She snapped. "How could you hurt her like that?!"

Jeremy's eyes darkened at the mention of Damon's ex-girlfriend. Of course, she couldn't get angry on his behalf when her little group of popular friends belittled and spread rumors about him, but she could get mad at him for loving his mate. He ignored the hurt that thought sent through him.

"That had nothing to do with me."

"It had everything to do with you! I didn't want to believe the rumors about you…but you seem intent on proving them right!" She yelled and he flushed in anger and hurt as people started to stop and stare at them.

He'd never thought that he'd hear those words from his sister and he knew if she continued on, he would break. Elena, no matter how neglectful, was the only blood family he had left. For her to do this to him in front of everyone, over a friend that didn't even like her half the time…it hurt.

"You really believe that?" He whispered and she snorted.

"What am I supposed to believe, Jeremy?! Only a whore steals someone's boyfriend."

His heart shattered in his chest.

Whore.

It seemed like even in his new life he wouldn't escape that dreaded word.

A broken laugh escaped his lips, cutting into his sister's tirade, and he turned away hoping no one would see the tears burning his eyes.

"I doubt most whores are virgins." He replied, before walking away, willing his tears not to fall.

There was no use crying over someone who only saw the worst in him.

He had other things to worry about…even still one traitorous tear escaped his eye as he resolved to shut himself off from the only blood-relation he had left in this world.

Damon hummed quietly as he waited in the parking lot for his lover, frowning inwardly as he picked up a few quiet statements containing his beloved's name.

Apparently the teen had had a confrontation with the doppelgänger about their relationship, after which no one had seen him. Many were on the fence about the argument, shocked that the girl would make their confrontation so public. The rest were more shocked that Jeremy had admitted to being a virgin, something many hadn't believed was true.

Footsteps sounded from behind him and he turned, scowling as he realized it was only Stefan, approaching him.

"She shouldn't have done that." He rumbled and to his surprise the younger vampire nodded in agreement.

"No. But he shouldn't have agreed to date you knowing you were dating Caroline."

"He didn't. I broke up with Caroline before he agreed to be with me. He's too kind to do something like that."

Stefan frowned. "Is getting to Elena really that important to you? So important that you would ruin that kid's life?"

"Why don't you keep your opinions to yourself." The two brothers turned to find the object of their discussion standing approaching, his expression blank and cold. Damon's heart ached at the expression, so similar to the one he'd worn the night before their last show. The show before Ziddler and The Duke had forced them apart.

"Sa-Jeremy,"

"I'm fine."

He wasn't, but Damon knew better than to say so. Stefan had no such qualms.

"No you're not."

Jeremy glared at him.

"Don't you have girl friend to comfort? Apparently she's distraught that her brother is a whore who steals her friend's boyfriends."

Damon swallowed.

"I've paid my whore!"

Those words had haunted him for years after he'd said them, but Satine's reaction had haunted him the most. The devastation in her eyes, the tears, they'd stayed with him long after her death and he would always regret saying those words.

He knew that word would be his mate's breaking point.

"You are not a whore." He whispered fiercely and Jeremy snorted.

"Aren't I?"

Damon scowled and grabbed his face.

"You are not a whore." He repeated firmly and his lover smiled brokenly.

"Such a way with words, my penniless sitar player."

Stefan raised an eyebrow at the two, who seemed to have forgotten his presence. Watching them, it was hard to believe they'd only met a few days ago. They behaved like they'd known each other for centuries. Somehow, he knew that this would be good for his brother.

TBC…

A/N: I have absolutely no idea where this is going…